The nearly bald nearly bawled

Holly Dahya (left) and Melinda Leota had the word "shave" designed on the backs of their heads by hairdresser Ian Filo. Photo/Stuart Munro

Since she shaved her head to fundraise for cancer, Melinda Leota can feel flies when they land on her scalp.

"It's really weird," said the 35-year-old mother of five, adding that reactions from her kids to her new look varied.

Her son told her not to get out of the car while dropping him off at school the other day, she said.

Sister Holly Dahya, 29, said her 2-year-old daughter was fascinated with the Shave for a Cure design on the back of her head.

Tears were close, but didn't quite make an appearance when the sisters got the chop last Friday.

Mrs Dahya said she was counting on Ms Leota not to cry, otherwise she didn't think she could hold back the emotion herself.

"I didn't want it to rub off," she said.

The women said Ian Filo at Underground City Hair and Beauty shaved their hair for them and was a big comfort at the time, telling them they'd pull off the bald look.

"He made us feel really good when he did it," said Ms Leota.

Mrs Dahya said Mr Filo was complimenting the shapes of their heads.

She said she was surprised it didn't look as bad as expected, but it did take some getting used to.

"It's tingly," she said.

"It's like when you cut your nail back too far and it's really sensitive."

Ms Leota said the new hairstyle was growing on her.

"I really like my greys now!"

The women had raised about $250-260 and Ms Leota said Kai Iwi School was also doing a "beanie day" fundraiser.

Mrs Dahya said while the act seemed huge leading up to it, it didn't seem like such a big deal now.

"Just to shave your hair seems so small now. It seems so mild just to chop it off."

The sisters wanted to thank Mr Filo, everyone who supported them, and everyone else braving the shaver.

They had one thing to ask of Leukaemia and Blood Cancer New Zealand: next year, make the shave date at the start of summer.